"School-to-Work Transition for Adolescent Girls" is a job market insertion program created by BASSMA Lebanese Organization for Social Development, and funded by the World Bank through the Youth Innovation Fund.
Sixty young women from disadvantaged backgrounds participated in the first phase of the project – a two-month long training program which was launched in April 2008.
The target audience is an important one, as 64% of the unemployed in Lebanon are between ages 15 and 29 (CAS). "Women have less access to social networks to aid in job search, sectoral and occupational information and lower access to training opportunities" ("The economic Participation of Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Why does it Matter", WB 08).
Moving into adulthood is a difficult period of life, particularly for young people, who have to cope with enormous changes and make strategic decisions that will potentially affect their future.
BASSMA has committed to assist this group in their journey into adulthood and into the labor force. With the guidance of experienced trainers, they will discover the scope of their personal and professional skills, build on their strengths, and acquire the skills necessary for a successful career.
How does one define success on a private and personal level? How does one set off in the right direction to attain a goal?
The course, which used training material adapted to the realities of the Lebanese job market and reviewed by Human Resources experts, aimed at deepening the participants’ knowledge about the job market, developing skills that are essential in the work place, as well as expanding their job search methods. By completing the course, participants gain the tools required to enter the work force and become financially and socially independent.
The ultimate objective of the program matches the participants with work, using BASSMA’s network of employment providers for immediate results. Preliminary findings are very promising, as 73 % of participants from the first recruitment round found gainful employment one week after the course ended.
The program’s success lies in the interactive format of the course and the rapport that the trainer is able to establish with the participants. Through open dialogue, role play, and instructive lectures, the classroom becomes a safe space for personal and professional growth.
Having experienced such encouraging results, BASSMA intends to widen the scope of this program and target 200 additional people to help them realize their full potential.
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